Accessible Jerusalem

Accessible Jerusalem is a new service of electric cars,
offered to pilgrims and residents with reduced mobility,
who wish to access the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem

Accessible Jerusalem aims to improve the quality of life for residents, to reduce air and noise pollution, and to make the Old City of Jerusalem a greener and healthier experience for all residents and pilgrims.

Responding proactively to technological advances and the trend towards ecological vehicles, Saint Lazare Holy Land has devoted its resources to the study and creation of an innovative new range of electric vehicles in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Alternative energy is becoming a need as concern for our environment increases and the uncertainty about oil reserves causes economic instability. Electric powered vehicles adapted to every need, will be offered as a free service to all pilgrims and residents with reduced mobility.

Support this wonderful project and help us make the lives of residents better, and help pilgrims access their holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem

For both visitor and local resident, an accessible city is a city that enables one to know in advance what is taking place, when and where, and allows one to leave home and arrive at a destination without difficulty, to enjoy participating in an event or experience, and then return home safely. People with disabilities are no different to anyone else. If their access needs are taken into account and some simple adjustments made to existing facilities, they are able to function in any environment.

DAILY LIFE

The Old City covers approximately 800 dunams (1dunam = 1000 m2) and is home to 35,000 residents. Approximately 11% of the population suffers from severe disabilities, and a further 10% consider themselves disabled. Residential buildings range from 2- 4 stores and are without elevators. There is scarcely an apartment that is not accessed via stairs, most of which are curved. The houses are ancient, making significant changes in most of them extremely difficult.

ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

If there is a lack of accessible public transportation, there is no point in leaving one’s home. Jerusalem spans a vast area in relation to the size of its population. Its places of interest and its holy sites are far from each other, and they are all distant from most of the hotels and transportation hubs. A convenient and efficient transportation system, that is easy to use, is a necessity.

MAKING THE OLD CITY’S PUBLIC AREAS ACCESSIBLE

Almost all of the Old City’s streets and plazas are inaccessible to vehicles, as most of them have stairs at some point. Furthermore, the Old City Gates are inaccessible to large vehicles. Transporting goods and food, collecting garbage, moving cargo, bringing in heavy machinery, providing fast and effective rescue services, and even issuing disability certificates for cars, all require particular solutions and supervision. Moreover, people using personal mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, or pushing baby carriages, cannot navigate many of the streets. Alongside the difficult task of creating conditions for the safe movement of wheeled vehicles is the difficult task of providing disabled visitors and residents alike with a Location Information System that shows the accessible routes, so that they are able to reach their destination via the appropriate route. The mass of merchandise and the complex and complicated structure of the Old City require such a system that has been adapted for people who are visually impaired and have limited spatial perception.